Bowling game control circuit



Feb. 11, 1941. E. J. COLLINS BOWLING GAME CONTROL CIRCUIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1940 Edward J Collins INVENTOR.

H15 ATTO Feb. 11, 1941. E. J. COLLINS BOWLING GAME CONTROL CIRCUIT Filed March 25, 1940 2 SheetsQSheet 2 .Zdward M H5 ATTO Y.

Patented Feb. 11, 1941 PATENT OFFICE BOWLING'GAME CONTROL CIRCUIT Edward J. Collins, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to H. 0. Evans & Co.. lnc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 25, 1940, Serial No. 325,760 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-37) This invention pertains to amusement apparatus in the nature of a ball rolling game and has as one of its broad objects the provision of circuit control mechanism operable to condition the machine for a series of operations according to a predetermined scoring plan.

Viewed from another aspect, itis an object of the invention to provide circuit control mechanism including a frame counting stepping switch operable from initial to advanced positions to condition a bowling game for the playing of one or more lines of ten frames each, depending upon the number of coins deposited by the player.

A further object is the provision of electrically operated pin resetting mechanism and switch means operated by the player and coacting with the frame counting switch to initiate a cycle of operation of said resetting mechanism and the stepping of said frame counting switch back toward initial position to subtract one frame responsive to each resetting of the pins.

Yet another object is the provision of novel means for setting or advancing the frame counting switch and including a motor-driven stepping switch actuated by a coin control and operable to advance the main frame counting switch ten steps for each coin'deposited, each step corresponding to one frame of play in a bowling game, the ten frames constituting a line, the-apparatus being capable of conditioning thegame for the playing of one or more lines. Y

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of the invention reside in certain details of construction as well as'the cooperative relationship of the component parts ofthe illustrative embodiment described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawings. in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coin-controlled bowling alley with-which the invention is used;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the pin resetting means of the alley along lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section along line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the resetting motor;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through the pin counterweights and resetting means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational detail of the setting switch for the frame counting switch;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram.

Referring to Fig. 1, the invention is employed in conjunction with a bowling alley I provided with a plurality of tethered pins ll suspended by overhead pulley means i2 (Fig. 2) in positions abovereleasableholding means in the form of permanent magnets 13 adapted to hold the several pins in properly spotted positions on the pin bed of the alley. Each pin is provided with a counterweight (4 adapted to raise the pin abruptly from the alley when struck by the bowling ball.

In order to restore the several pinsfrom raised to lowered or spotted position on the alley, there is provided a horizontal lift bar l5 (Fig. 4) underlying all of the counterweights l4 and arranged to be elevated by cam means I6 driven by a motor I! (Fig. 3), the magnets I3 being effective to hold the pins in lowered condition against the raising effort of .the corresponding counterweights. I

The game is also provided with an automatic ball return including a motor-driven elevating 15 device N (Fig. 1) which receives the spent balls' from a transverse return alley i9 (Figs. 1 and 2) anddelivers the same to a return alley an arranged to align the balls in an elevated portion 2i thereof for convenient access to the player at the platform 22 of the alley.

The present game is preferably arranged for coin-controlled operation, and to this end there is provided a control cabinet 23 at the side of the platformg'and including a coin testing device or chute 24 (Fig. 6) into. which. coins may be deposited through an opening 25 in the top" of the control cabinet to set certain control mechanism into operation and effect a clearing of "previous scoring indications and a resetting of pins ii. p The control circuit means and mechanism is best illustrated in Fig. 6 and includes a frame counting switch generally indicated at 30, this switch preferably being of the rotary step-bystep variety including a stepping wiper contact arm 3! adapted to start from an initial position ble to free the moving element of the switch for restoration of the ratchet and contact arm to initial or starting position, connection between the contact arm or wiper 3i and the ratchet 33 being indicated in Fig. 6 bythe dotted line.

Stepping action of the frame counting switch is preferably effected by oscillation of a stepping pawl 35 which is attracted by a stepping magnet 36 energized or impulsed in a manner hereinafter to be described.

A feature of the invention is the connection of the frame counting switch to condition the apparatus for the playing of a succession of games in accordance with some predetermined scoring plan, as for example, the playing off of one or more lines in a bowling game wherein each line may be said to constitute a complete game in itself, there being ten complete operations of the game apparatus in each line played, each of the ten individual operations being designated inbowling parlance a frame, and the playing of each successive frame requiring a resetting or reconditioning of the game apparatus, as by restoring any struck or elevated pins to properly spotted condition on the pin bed.

The foregoing arrangement of the control or frame counting switch is such that the wiper 3| 'is advanced from its initial position or contact 32 to an advanced position or contact 31 or to any one of the still farther advanced positions or contacts 38-39 or 40, there being nine serially connected contacts 4| disposed between each of the main contact positions 3231 48 for controlling the stepping operation of the switch in subtracting the frames of play one by one. Thus, the contacts 32 to 31 and the intervening serially connected contacts 4| constitute a region of control corresponding to one line of play, and each of the advanced or line indicating contacts 31, 38,39 or 48 is connected respectively to energize a corresponding line indicating lamp 310, 38a,

39a, 40a situated on the top of the control cabi- 'net 23 to apprise the player of the number of lines to be played.

When the player approaches the game and deposits a coin in the chute 24, setting mechanism is put into operation to impulse the step-up magnet 36 and advance the wiper 3| at least to the contact 31 to permit one line of play, deposit of additional coins actuating the setting mechanism 40 to advance the wiper or contact arm 3| corre-' spondinglyto contacts 38, 39, etc.

This setting mechanism includes a master 0peratmg switch arranged for operation by a lever 46 moved by a coin deposited in the chute 5 24, one terminal of the switch, being grounded and the other terminal being connected to one terminal of a holding relay winding 41 and one terminal of a cam switch solenoid 48, the other terminal of which is connected, as is the remain- 5o ing terminal of the relay 41, to a common battery or power conductor 49, the return connection to the battery 50 being grounded. Thus, closing ,of switch 45 by a coin will energize the holding relay winding 41 and solenoid 48, the holding relay closing its own locking circuit through contact 5| which is connected by conductor 52 to a starting terminal 53 on the setting or impulse switch gen erally indicated at 54. The wiping contact arm 55 of the setting switch is grounded so that when 80 the holding relay 41 is initially'impulsed through the coin switch, ground will be connected through.

cam'switch 59 (Fig. 5, also) which has a companion and ,normally open contact grounded. When the cam switch solenoid 48 is energized as aforesaid, switch 59 is closed by the riding arm 80, thus connecting ground to the timing motor so that the latter begins to run. The riding arm is provided with an offset 8| which fits into a notch in a cam disc 82 permitting the arm 68 to drop and open switch 59 when the notch in the cam disc moves into engagement with the offset 8| to stop themotor. The cam disc 62 and the contact arm 55 of the impulsing switch are all connected as indicated by dotted hnes to be driven By the motor 56.. Thus, a momentary closing of switch 45 energizes the solenoid 48, closing switch 59, and the motor 56 starts, displacing the notch in the cam disc from engagement with the offset 8|, which thereafter rides on the periphery of the'disc, holding switch 59 closed until the disc makes a complete revolution.

As the wiper 55 of the impulsing switch is rotated by operation of motor 56, it moves successively into and out of engagement with ten contacts generally indicated at 63 and connected in series to a conductor 84 leading to one terminal of the step-up coil 38, the other terminal of this coil being connected by conductor 85 to the common battery or power connection so that as wiper 55 moves into and out of engagement with the ten contacts 83, the coil 38 will be energized ten times,'resulting in ten stepping operations of the ratchet 33, with a corresponding movement of wiper 3| of the frame counting switch from its initial or starting contact position 32, wiper 3| stopping on the first advanced-position contact 31 if only one coin has been deposited in the chute 24, and'lamp 31a thereby being illuminated on the control cabinet.

The player may then reset the pins by pushing a button 68 on the control cabinet (Fig. 1) which operates a master resetting switch 81 (Fig. 6) connecting ground via conductor 88 to all of the serially connected contacts 4| on the line indicating or stepping switch and thus connecting ground to the wiper 3| which in turn is connected bya conductor 69 to one side of the resetting motor I1, the other side of which is connected by conductor 10 to the common power connection, so that the resetting motor I1 is started through a cycle of operation to reset the counterweights and pins by raising the cross bar l5 as heretofore explained.

The resetting operation is cyclic in that the resetting bar I5 is raised and lowered for this purpose, and the motor I1 is automatically shut ofi when the resetting bar I5 is restored to lowered position, this being accomplished by a cam disc 1| (Fig. 3 also) drivingly connected through shaft 12 with the motor l1 and provided with a peripheral notch engaged by the offset 13 on a locking switch 14. As soon asthe motor starts following operation of the push button master switch 66-451, disc 1| is rotated far enough to displace the peripheral notch and cause the offset 13 to ride on the periphery of the disc, closing switch 14 and connectingground to conductor struction with the switch 1|14 and operating in the same manner (see Fig. 3) to connect ground via conductor 11 to one terminal of the ceiving power via conductor 19 from the common power connection.

Operation Assuming that the player approaches the game in the condition in which it is shown in Fig. 1 wherein some of the pins have been struck and removed from the pin bed, he may condition the game by depositing one five-cent coin, for example, in the opening 25 in the top of the control cabinet 23, and assumingthe coin is acceptable, it will be guided by the testing chute 24 into engagement with the switch operating arm 46, momentarily closing switch 45,whichsimu1taneously energizes relay 4'! and the cam switch solenoid 48. Relay 41 closes its own locking circuit for the time being through its contact 5|, and solenoid 48 raises the cam arm 60 to close the setting switch 59 which starts motor 56 for a cycle of operation determined by the length of time it takes the disc 62 to bring the notch around to the offset 6| again.

Operation of the setting motor 56 as aforesaid causes the wiper 55 of the impulsing switch to wipe over the bank of series contacts 63 with a resultant impulsing of the stepping coil 35 ten times. As soon as wiper 55 leaves the starting contact 53, the holding circuit through contact 5| for the holding relay is broken and the latter drops back.

Impulsing of the step-up coil 36 as aforesaid steps the ratchet disc 33 with a corresponding stepping of the frame counter wiping arm 3| away from its'initial position 32, the wiper coming torest in an advancedposition on the first line indicating contact 31 with a consequent illumination of the first line indicating lamp 310. atop control cabinet 23.

If the player desires, he may deposit another coin and advance the frame counter wiping arm 3! to a second advanced position to contact 38,. causing the second line indicating lamp 38a to be .illuminated. As shown, the frame counter and associated mechanism is capable of setting up four lines for play, there being frames to each line. V d

When the player observes one of the line the customary ten counter lamps to be illuminated, he knows thatthe circuit control mechanism is. in condition to start the pin resetting means and he depresses button 66, closing switch 61 to connect power momentarily to the pin resetting motor l1 via conductor 68, the bank of intermediate or frame contacts 4|, the frame counter wiper 3|, and conductor 69. Starting of motor ll closes cam switch M for the duration of a complete resetting cycle which results in a. reciprocation of the bar ii to restore the pins to the alley.

Each time the player operates the master resetting switch 66-61, one of the permitted frames of play will be subtracted, this being accomplished by the closing of the subtracting cam switch 15, which impulses the take-off or subclaim as new'and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bowling game including pin resetting motor mechanism, a control circuit including a framecounting stepping switch, electrically controlled means for moving said switch from an initial to an advanced position "ten steps at a time, means operated by a player and connected for control by said stepping switch to start said motor mechanism provided the stepping switch is in an advanced position, and means coacting with said motor mechanism for restoring said stepping switch one step at a time back toward initial position upon each resetting operation of said motor mechanism.

2. In a bowling game, in combination, a step by step frame counting. switch and electrically controlled mechanism for stepping the same in opposite directions relative to an initial and an advanced position, means controlled by a player for actuating said electrically controlled stepping mechanism to move said switch from initial to advanced position, means controlled by a player for actuating said electrically controlled stepping mechanism to return said frame counting switch one step at a time back toward initial position, and pin resetting mechanism including a resetting motor and circuit connections therefor operable when the motor is startedto maintain the motor in operation for the duration of one comrestoring switch means coacting with said motor for operation once during each resetting cycle of stepped from an initial to an advanced position,

a second steppingswitch connected foroperation to step said first stepp ng switch to an advanced position, electrically operated restoring mechanism coacting with said first stepping switch and. operable to step the latter in a succession of steps back toward said initial position, switch means controlled by a player and connected for cooperation with said first-mentioned stepping switch to start said motor for a cycle of pin resetting operation, locking'switch means coacting with said motor to lock an operating circuit therefor for the duration of one cycle of resetting operation upon starting of the motor as aforesaid, and switch means operably controlled by said motor for actuating said restoring mechanism once during. each cycle of resetting operation of the motor.

4. In a control circuit for a bowling game of the type which includes-a pin resetting mechanism, the combination of a stepping switch and electrically operated stepping means therefor arranged for operation to advance said switch a certain number of steps from an initial position to a-starting position, electrically controlled takeoff means cooperable with said switch to effect movement of the same, in steps from said starting position back toward said initial position, means controlled by a player for actuating said electrically controlled take-oi! means, means con: trolled by a player for actuating said first-mentioned electrically operated stepping means to advance the stepping switch. and an electrically operated means controlled by said stepping switch to operate said pin resetting mechanism for a certain length of time.v

5. In a bowling game of the class described, in combination, a frame counting switch provided with a succession of counting contacts, said counting switch including a movable contact,

electrically operated means for moving said movable contact in one direction to an advanced position, a second electrically operated means for efiectingmovement of said movable contact in an opposite direction away from advancedposition, means actuated under the control of a player for energizing said first-mentioned movable contact advancing means desired amounts from for the duration of a resetting cycle after the motor has been started by other means, a frame counting switch including a movable contact adapted to m ve in opposite directions between a normal position and an advanced position, means under the control of a player formoving said contact to advanced position, meansunder the control of a player and said frame counting switch for starting said motor provided said frame counting switch is in an advanced position, and master resetting means operably controlled by said motor for restoring said frame counting switch in successive steps toward normal position one step for each resetting operation of the motor.

EDWARD J. COLLINS. 

